NRC report: Indian Point 'preserved public health and safety' in 2012

May 7, 2013

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Residents can question federal regulators next week about the operation of the Indian Point nuclear power plant in Buchanan.

Staff from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission will hold a public meeting on Tuesday about the agency’s assessment of the plant’s safety performance.

Both Indian Point 2 and 3 received a green rating for 2012, which means the inspection findings were considered of “very low safety significance.” Entergy Nuclear, Indian Plant’s owner, learned about the NRC’s findings in a March letter from the agency.

The ratings are based on 11,400 hours of safety inspections.

“The NRC determined that overall, Indian Point operated in a manner that preserved public health and safety and met all cornerstone objectives,” Arthur Burritt, division chief of reactor projects, wrote to Entergy.

Entergy is trying to renew its operating licenses for Indian Point. The licenses expire this year and in 2015, respectively. In addition to maintaining baseline inspections at the plant, the NRC said it plans to review maintenance and other commitments Entergy has made as part of the Unit 2 relicensing process.

The meeting will take place at the Doubletree Hotel Tarrytown, 455 S. Broadway. Beginning at 6 p.m., NRC staff will be available for one-on-one discussions. From 7 to 8 p.m., the NRC will hold a public meeting.

On Tuesday, the NRC also released a report analyzing the whistle-blower complaints received from employees at Indian Point in 2012 as well as five other reactor sites around the country. Indian Point and the others were selected for further review because of the size of their workforce and the number of complaints. There were 17 complaints lodged by Indian Point 2 and 3 employees, mostly security related, an NRC spokesman said. In 2011, there were 15.

A nuclear plant in California had the most in 2012 with 28 employee allegations.